Newbie looking for a Tundra

Hey all! New folks from NM and looking at buying a Tundra for the wife moreless. This will replace our 04 4Runner and be used to haul a 2 horse trailer occasionally and as a DD. 4wd is a must and a crew cab is likely. Looking for the good, bad and ugly and any years to avoid. Thanks for any direction, tips or advice.

 

Avoid any year with frame rust. I’m a sucker for a clean first gen but they’re not the best at towing vs the newer stuff. 4x4 and a crew cab are a must! Good luck in your search, prices are starting to come down with this economy.

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Welcome from Utah.
https://www.kbb.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=666023474

^^^^just a quick search.

What's you price range?

 

Welcome from NC

 

hello, welcome from a recent new guy on this forum.

From your post we have several common needs and wants, so I'm going to (hopefully) do my first "give back" to this helpful forum by giving you some of my story to layout reasons for choices.

Like you, truck is more or less for wife, she's into horses, actually more ponies now as we both get older. Like you, we had a 04 4runner, best vehicle we've owned. Traded it for a 04 Ford f250 diesel when moved from Az to Ok in 2017. Bought it to handle a 4 horse gooseneck but times change/life changes so it rarely carried more than 2 horses, usually only 1 past few years. So when F250 recently died a quick death (powerstoke turd after 100k), we decided to downsize trailer to allow downsize of truck requirement. Now watching for a good deal on slightly used 2 horse bumper, preferably aluminum. Get that setup before show season.

Also like you, we prefer 4wd. Don't need it often in Oklahoma, but nothing worse than spinning with a loaded trailer on a dew coated field at a show. Or in your case in NM perhaps a sand parking area.

One not like you - our truck is not daily driver. I work at home, wife drives SUV to work and that is what we most often go out in. So truck only used when other is out. In hindsight, low mileage may have contributed to death of diesel - another reason did not consider diesels this time.

We wound up getting a 21 Tundra 1794 edition - loaded, 4wd, crew cab. We don't need the crew cab, our son is adult, but nice to have for grandson or shopping. Couple nights ago 5 of us went to drive through Christmas lights - big cab was nice (grandson loves the truck because he can see out windows . Crew will be nice for stuff like that even though don't need it day to day.

So with all that said, few things I considered that might help you:
1. 4wd adds weight, payload is gross rating of truck less its weight with all addons and full tank of fuel. So more weight equals less payload. We accepted less payload for 4wd
2. Crew cab weighs more than double cab, so another reduction of payload
3. Loaded versions (limited, platinum, 1794) add weight, especially for sunroof and any packages (ours has TRD package) - so another hit on payload
4. All the above also hit towing capacity
5. So with all that, our payload is 1185, towing capacity 8800. A bit lower than I would have liked but the types of trailer we will tow (and sounds same for you) tend to be GVWR at 7000. So well within limits for a roadside inspection (they reference gross ratings). Our actual load, 1 horse, 1 or 2 ponies, will be well below 70 to 80% that I've always tried to stay under. I've always believed that what a truck can stop is more important than what a truck can pull. So I'm very conservative.

Another consideration - our 1794 only comes in short box (as do a few versions I think). First short I've owned, I'm sure there will be times I hate it but so far fine - no problem for pickup of 6 to 8 big bales orchard grass just a few miles away. Anything more we can do with 16 foot deck trailer I bought at auction few years ago for only few hundred bucks (a fixer upper)

As for which years. The newest trucks, 2022 and 2023, have higher tow capacities than previous. We test drove, liked, but I was scared off by some of the reported issues. Like you we have history with Toyotas so I'm sure Toyota will make it right, but I've never been an early adopter. We decided to go with so called gen 2.5 (2014 to 2021). Last of the Toyota 5.7 Liter V8 - great reputation. The first generation were nice but lower capacities. We also had a 2000 standard cab for few years - bought used, it was also great.

Our 2021 has low mileage, certified preowned from dealer. I know there can be issues with certified warranties, but Toyota has best reputation for standing behind. Our 4runner and a highlander before that were certified used. I like that a year old is through the steepest depreciation. Our truck would probably trade today for what we paid, whereas new depreciate significantly the minute drive off the dealer lot.

ETA - one more consideration for you needing daily driver. The V8 that I wanted is known for lousy mpg. I don't care because as noted it is secondary (don't care too much, I do try to save money). But that might lean you to latest model years with better ratings. For me, approx $20K I saved will pay for a lot of gas.

Hope all this helps, gives you some things to consider.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

Nice truck there B Ross. Were not ready just yet to make a deal but that one is tempting.

 

Welcome

 

Welcome from So Cal